The fight for Serie A survival intensifies this Saturday as bottom-placed Monza welcomes 17th-placed Hellas Verona to the U-Power Stadium. With both teams desperate for points, this match could prove pivotal in determining their fate for the remainder of the season.
Monza’s return to Serie A after a 110-year absence has been far from fairytale. The Biancorossi find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table with a mere 13 points from 22 games, seven points adrift of safety. Their recent form has been particularly concerning, with five consecutive away losses compounding their struggles.
While Monza did manage to secure their first home victory of the season against Fiorentina two weeks ago, subsequent defeats to Bologna (3-1) and Genoa (2-0) have dampened any optimism. The team’s inability to create chances was glaringly evident in their last outing, managing just one shot on target against Genoa.
New manager Salvatore Bocchetti faces an uphill battle to preserve Monza’s top-flight status. His primary focus will be on shoring up a defense that has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 15 league games. Interestingly, their last shutout came in a 3-0 victory over this weekend’s opponents, Verona, back in October.
Hellas Verona’s situation is only marginally better than Monza’s. The Gialloblu sit precariously in 17th place, level on points with 18th-placed Lecce and only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Their recent form has been a mixed bag, with a vital 1-1 draw against Venezia last Monday ending a 348-minute goal drought.
Paolo Zanetti’s side has shown some promise on the road recently, losing just one of their last four away games. However, their overall defensive frailties are a major concern, having conceded a league-high 48 goals this season. Verona’s tendency to concede first – doing so in 17 matches this season – has put them on the back foot far too often.
The head-to-head record favors Monza, who are unbeaten in their five top-flight meetings with Verona, winning three. Verona have yet to score at the U-Power Stadium in Serie A, losing 2-0 in 2022 and drawing 0-0 last season. However, given both teams’ current form, this match could buck the trend of previous encounters.
Team News
Monza’s injury woes continue, with captain Matteo Pessina, Roberto Gagliardini, Luca Caldirola, and goalkeeper Alessio Cragno all sidelined. New loan signings Kacper Urbanski and Stefan Lekovic could feature again after making their debuts last weekend. The return of left-back Georgios Kyriakopoulos, who has a strong record against Verona, could prove crucial.
Verona will likely be without top scorer Casper Tengstedt due to injury, a significant blow to their attacking options. However, the return of Pawel Dawidowicz and Ondrej Duda from suspension provides a boost. New signing Daniel Oyegoke could make his debut, while Davide Faraoni, Martin Frese, and Abdou Harroui remain on the injury list.
Expected Starting XIs
Monza: Turati; D’Ambrosio, Izzo, Carboni; Pedro Pereira, Urbanski, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos; Ciurria, Dany Mota, Caprari
Verona: Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Duda, Serdar, Bradaric; Suslov, Sarr, Kastanos
Match Prediction
Given the high stakes and both teams’ recent struggles, this match is likely to be a tense, closely-fought affair. Monza’s desperation for points at home will be met by Verona’s improved away form, potentially resulting in a hard-fought draw.
While a point does little to significantly improve either team’s position, it could provide a platform for both sides to build on as they enter the crucial final stretch of the season. Expect a 1-1 draw, with both teams reluctant to risk everything in pursuit of victory.
Prediction: Monza 1-1 Verona
